In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Wikipedia remains a bastion of knowledge, but it faces a critical critique regarding the quality of its visual representations. Amateur photographers are stepping up to address what many describe as a significant shortcoming: Wikipedia’s often outdated or unflattering photographs of notable individuals. This issue seems particularly pronounced for celebrities, many of whom have photographs that neither capture their current appearance nor reflect the contemporary context they represent.
Wikipedia is among the most visited websites globally, yet it has been burdened by the inclusion of poor-quality images. Volunteer editors have openly acknowledged the prevalence of outdated and unflattering photos, leading to the establishment of social media accounts dedicated to showcasing the worst offenders. The crux of the problem lies in copyright restrictions; professional photographers typically own the rights to the images they capture at exclusive events. This creates a dilemma for Wikipedia, which operates on a largely volunteer basis and lacks the budget necessary to secure high-quality images.
To combat this issue, volunteers have launched the project called WikiPortraits. The aim is to curate a global contingent of amateur photographers who can be networked at film festivals, conferences, and similar events, thereby generating updated photographs of notable individuals. Kevin Payravi, a founder of WikiPortraits, identified the long-standing deficiency in Wikipedia’s visual content, emphasizing that the problem has lingered on the minds of editors for years.
During events such as the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, Payravi, alongside fellow founder Jennifer Lee, has actively recruited volunteer photographers. “Some people are genuinely bothered by the terrible photos on Wikipedia,” Lee noted, suggesting a grassroots desire to remedy this embarrassing and curatorial oversight. Many of the previous pictures were deemed so inadequate that Lee amusingly remarked about their comical quality, allowing some people to become history’s ‘blobs of humans’ in accordance to their astringent visual critics.
Wikipedia’s strict rules regarding photography and copyright further complicate the situation. All images must be uploaded by contributors or be completely unrestricted in terms of licensure. Such policies mean that users often submit amateur snapshots rather than professionally taken photographs, and this has led to the inclusion of poorly composed images. Among the most egregious examples is comedian Emil Wakim, whose previous Wikipedia image was so bad that an editor deemed it better to have no picture at all than to feature the poorly executed photograph.
As such, WikiPortraits has sought to develop a cohort of volunteer photographers. Starting in early 2024, the initiative has attracted around fifty volunteer participants, including photography enthusiasts, hobbyists, and students wishing to enhance their skills. A standout among these is Bryan Berlin, a high school photography teacher and comedian who has begun taking pictures at prestigious events like Sundance and the New York Film Festival. Berlin asserts that addressing the visual aspects of Wikipedia enriches the user experience, enhancing access to more accurate representations of public figures.
While WikiPortraits has effectively updated the images of some significant contemporary figures like Elijah Wood and Florence Pugh, it has also prioritized the representation of under-acknowledged individuals, ensuring that even those without Wikipedia pictures receive the visibility they deserve. The project boasts that its photographs receive over 100 million views each month, reflecting the substantial impact on Wikipedia’s visual landscape.
Looking ahead, WikiPortraits aims to engage more photographers from diverse geographical backgrounds, with a specific interest in sports photography. The success of the project has fostered aspirations to obtain credentials for major events like the Met Gala and the Oscars. Such milestones, according to Jennifer Lee, would validate the initiative and its contributions to enhancing Wikipedia’s visual offerings. By bridging the gap between artistic representation and encyclopedia quality, amateur photographers are striving to reshape not only Wikipedia’s image but also its broader narrative surrounding public figures.
